…s’funny how little flashbacks come at yeez when yeez least expect it… that simple wee message that regularly does the rounds, triggered sum’thing for me again today … the one that says, ‘Everybody you meet, and I mean EVERYBODY, is fighting some sort of battle you know nothing about… be kind’… it caused me this morning to go dig back into my files … the obscure ones where I ‘hide’ some of my private, personal, poetry efforts from over the years… the correlation is this … back in 2002, I was at lunch in a seafood restaurant in Manila in the Philippines, a country assailed with living hardships… the waitress who served me was prob’ly around her mid-30s… a very pretty lady, but whose brave face showed she was obviously carrying some almost unbearable inner burden… I went back to my office and wrote the following lines:
TO WEEP IS NOT A SHAME
The smile upon your face
I thought extremely brave,
For the shadows in your eyes
Are trying tears to save.
Whatever sadness lurks therein
From whatever source it came,
Set it free and cry my dear
To weep is not a shame.
The world is full of trials
That each of us must face.
I’ve seldom seen it carried
Like you—with so much grace.
The darkness round your heart
I trust will move away.
Although you do not know me
For you—today I pray.
For you are just the same as I
And everyone around.
Your face deserves to smile
And not be creased or frowned.
I hope these thoughts of mine
Can clear your darkened frame.
Set it free and cry my dear,
To weep is not a shame.
SEUMAS GALLACHER
November 15, 2002
…so be a little extra kind to sumb’dy today… yeez may save a life.. and it may be yer own… see yeez later… LUV YEEZ!…
ALL MY BLOG POSTS ARE FREE TO SHARE OR RE-BLOG SHOULD YOU SO WISH—BE MY GUEST!
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
As Seumas says: “be a little extra kind to sumb’dy today… yeez may save a life.. and it may be yer own…”
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,,cheeers , Chris:)
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Welcome Seumas – it’s a poem from the heart to touch other hearts 🐵
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Isn’t it funny, just the other day I got a Postcrossing-postcard with exactly this message on it. And when I thanked the sender for this card I also said, being kind is a good thing in general, but you also have to know when to stand your ground and not be kind. Because there are always those people who just want to abuse your kindness.
Persons who are out of nowhere in a nice conversation suddenly touching you inappropriately (happened to me on a train, where I chatted with a random, elderly “gentle”man). To be kind has its dangers, too!
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..indeed , m’Lady 🙂
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Beautiful poem, Seumas…beautiful!
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…thanks, that man, Patrick 🙂
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Lovely poem and thoughts that went with it, Seumas. Kindness is one thing that doesn’t cost money. It can be freely given, and should be.
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..agreed, m’Lady, Suzanne 🙂
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A most tenderly worded hug!
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… thank you , m’Lady, Annette… glad you appreciated it 🙂
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Lovely poem. I wrote a weepy one and wept yesterday along with it and it felt better to unburden.
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..ain’t that the truth, m’Lady, Jacqueline:):)
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Yes, yes 🙂
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Reblogged this on BetweenTheLines and commented:
Very thoughtful and thought provoking post
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…thank you for the reblog, m’Lady, Cathy 🙂
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My pleasure 🙂
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Nicely done, oh kilted one. 🙂
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…cheeeers, that man, Lockie 🙂
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Being kind is a two sided coin Seumas. On one side, the person receiving your kindness feels not so alone and feels good knowing someone cares. The other side is the person giving the kindness feels good too. Giving out kindness makes the giver know they have brightened someone’s day or lessened someone’s burden just a tad more. It’s a nice feeling to have.
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…betcha, m’Lady, Jackie:)
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Man of many talents our Seumas; the hard bitten Jack, the joker in the pack and the great big softie. 😀 Lovely poem Sir G, and maybe the waitress did find some comfort from the empathy radiating from you. x
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:):)
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Very moving. Thanks, Seumas
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cheeeeers , m’Lady, Olga 🙂 mwaah 🙂
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What a lovely poem. It touched my heart!
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..thank you, m’Lady, Noelle 🙂
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Very moving… Thank you, Seumas 🙂
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..thanks, m’Lady, Tina:)
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Lovely. A very moving poem.
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…cheeers, m’Lady, Michelle ..:)
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I was lost in your poem. I simply loved it so much…
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…thank you , m’Lady, Aurora Jean…:)
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You’re very welcome, Good Sir. 😉
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Beautiful, Seumas! I’ve seen another side of you lately from some of your posts, a side I think you hide, and I like it! 😊
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…ah, m’Lady, Ali… methinks we each of us has only ONE face, but many, many different masks… the mask that closest matches, not what we WRITE or SAY, or sometimes even DO, but how we FEEL is the truer refection of ourself… :):) mwaaah 🙂
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That is so true. ☺
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